The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-13
BY THE WAY.

SHE is a young woman Of twenty or there
abouts. graduate of Vassar. and spoken of by
admiring friends as $50 intellectual you know"
If she were to marry. or become an angel or do
anything to call for special newspaper attention,
she would be described as brilliant" "highly
accomplished" "a fine lingust" etc. Girls who
''go through college are always referred to in
that way for two three years after their grad
uation, or until people forget that such inn
portant event ever occurred. This particular
young women, when met her. held note in
her hand and wore frown. This" she said.
twisting the letter vindictively, sis
an invitation to-'a LUNCHEON partyp "a
no. it is request that 1 will
read paper before the Ninety and nine Literary
Society, on the subject Of ''Shakspeare's
Mother" Being fresh from my studies. the
invitation reads, the preparation of the paper
can require but little time. and my wonderful
facility of composition will render the labor
easy'-yum! yum! 1 have under consideration"
she continued. IAN urgent invitation to join
the North-end Ladies' Dante Class, and to give
my views at the next meeting upon the question
of whether the poet was made by the war be-
tween the Guelphs and the-was it the Ghibe
lines!-or whether, had there been no
Florentine difficulties, he would have died
with all his poetry in him9 / shant
tell the North-end ladies that my Dante
studies are comprised in a perusal of the
Francesca Paolo episode, which l hunted out
after seeing the play. Then have promised to
read paper before the Young Woman's Foreign
Missionary Society of our church-had to do it;
mother made NEON 1.-The Superiority Of the
Christian over the Buddhist Code of Morality"
Shall have to read up the Buddhists to see
what their code is; but whatever it is, will rate
it low down in the scale to satisfy the mission
airy girls. Then my name has been presented
for membership in the Pure Intellect Club; one
learns SO much there, they say. AS if this were
not enough am told that ought to keep up my
studies by joining literary class, a history
class and a German class. Now, do you know,
1 don't want to drift back into ignorance, as one
kind friend assured me I would do unless kept
my mind in practice, and I hope know that
didn't absorb all the knowledge there is while in
school; but am little tired of so much culture,
you see. It grows monotonous. I used
my brains pretty constantly for several
years and now I should like to give
them q rest-excuse slang, please and
and have a chance to exercise-'my heelsr Yes
just that and-my tongue. But don't whisper it
to the literary ladies or am lost
| The pertinacity with which one topic of con-
| versation continues to turn up, when. once sug-
gested to the mind, was illustrated by the re-
marks made late in the same day by stad pro-
| fessonal gentleman who enjoys the reputation,
| quainted with the literature of his own
and several other countries. This gentle
man, arraying himself in his outer garments
with some care. was asked to which of
| two notable entertainments he fastened.
II co." said he crmly, "to neither, but to
the minstrel show. Society is getting too intel
lectual for me. After delving in my Office ell day
| go to my friends house to meet a few people,
and find them engaged in the pleasing pastme
of writing original verses. or of quoting from the
classics lines pertinent to designated subject;
or they are playing whist, or some other game
with thousand rules and requiring the closest
attention. Even in crowded reception
| where there is nothing to do but wan.
der aimlessly about wearing as wild
an expression Of idiocy as possible no way OF
escape from the intellectual people ia open.
The other night was having delightful con-
versation with two buds Beng fatherly
person, you know, they confded in me- and !
was getting the full benefit of their impressions
of society in general, and Of the young men in
particular. when my hostess came and took me
away, whispering that she wanted me to meet
some congenial spirits. One of these spirits ]
found to be Professor Something or Other
an educator. He wanted my opinion pres
emily as to the best method of impressipe
abstruse philosophical principles, for instance
those of Descartes, upon the youthful intelli
gence. He had experienced difficulty in con
veying instruction of this character. told him
l had never noticed the effect of Descartes upor
the juvenile mind, but that had observed tina
the principles taught by those national phlos
ophers, Glasscock, OBren and Shomberg wer,
| grasped with the greatest of ease by persons O
mmature age said national and AZ other con
genial spirit who wore skirts and bangs, has
courage. /, myself, prefer that pronunciation
but Webster says national, you know-shor
"a"-and l haven't dared to be independent
Yes, l shall go to the minstrel show" said IN.
professional friend, clapping on his hat; goo,
evening"
After some reflection upon the subject, an,
consultation with persons who have facilities TO
observation, have reached the conclusion tina
the Vassar young woman and the elderly gentle
man are needessly alarmed. There is no doub
that Indianapolis Is intellectual to high degree
II has had two conventions Of authors in it
midst" and is promised third, distinction o
which 70 other American city can boast It ha